Maryland is poised to join seven other states and the District of Columbia in allowing gay marriage. However, opponents are promising to gather enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot in the fall,
The Washington Post reported.
The Maryland Senate, following the state house’s lead, approved the measure Thursday and Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley has promised to sign it into law. However, polls show that voters in the heavily Democratic state are evenly divided on the issue.
Maryland Republicans set up a website last year to solicit signatures and opponents need some 55,000 to get the measure on the ballot. A number of religious groups, including some African-American churches, also oppose the measure, the Post reported.
If the measure ends up on the ballot it could create difficulties for President Barack Obama, who may be pressured by gay rights activists and African-American churches to take a stand one way or the other, the Post reported.
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